Bathing-suit



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1.

M. vM. SHEPARD.4

lBTHING SUIT.

110.601,781. l Patented Apr. 5,1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY MELISSIE SHEPARD, OF DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

BATHINGSUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,781, dated April 5, 1898.

Application filed January 1l, 1897. Serial No. 618,832. (No model.)

neat and comfortable fit and enable the wearer.

to bend in all directions without straining the garment and with perfect ease and freedom, whereby physical exercises may be indulged in when the suitis worn.

Various other objects and advantages are contemplated and will suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is disclosed, and

to this end reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are designated by the same reference characters. y

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion,and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the garment, parts being broken away and the skirt and corsets omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the waist portion of the garment, showing the corsets in place. Fig. 4t is a detail view of the lower portion of a pants-leg and the upper portion of a stocking connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a shoe and the foot portion of a stocking, parts being broken away.

The waist 1 and pants 2 are of usual form and construction. The corsets 3 are provided with the ordinary fastenings for securing them in the front and are connected in therear by means of an elastic cord or lace 4so as to permit them to give and yield tothe various movements of the body when exercising. Each half or part of the corsets is stitched to the waist directly under the arm, as shown at corresponding with the frontal bone.

' position.

5, the stitching extending from the arm-scye to a point corresponding with the waist-line. By having the corsets attached to the garment in the mannerset forth the waist is supported and retained in place, to the comfort and ease of the wearer.

The stockings 6 are joined at their upper ends to the lower edges of the pants and are strengthened by reinforcing-.strips 7, stitched thereto and extending from the ankle to the knee and placed one upon each side of a line Elastic tapes or webbing 8 are joined to the upper ends of the reinforcing-strips '7, and their full or shirred edges are stitched to the upper portion of the stockings, whereby said upper portion of the stockings is correspondingly shirred, thereby permitting it to give and conform to the knee when bent, the elasticS 8 taking up the fullness when the knee is straightened. These elastictapes or webs 8 are joined to the pants a distance from their lower ends, leaving sucient fullness for draping in the ordinary manner, and are stitched thereto, as shown at 9, the upper portion of the pants being shirred, as shownat 9, to enable the garment to yield and. adapt itself'to the movements Aof the body without impeding the free action of vthe bather or straining the garment. A tape or strap l0 is secured at its lower end-to the upper extremity of the front elastic 8 and is stitched to the waist throughout its length and terminates at the juncture of the shoulder-seam with the seam between the neck-opening and. collar. A tape or strip 1l is fastened at its lower end to the upper portion of the inner elastic 8 and extends to the lower portion of the arm-scye and isstitched throughout its length to the intermediate portion Aof the garment. An

to the back or seat portion of the pants, and` the latter are shirred to admit of stretching when the wearer bends forward, the fullness being automatically taken up by the elastic when the wearer regains an erect or straight A tape or strap 13 extends from the upper portion of each back elastic l2 to the collar and. is stitched to the garment throughout its length, the upper ends of the tapesl and 10 coming upon opposite sides of the shoulder-seam- IOO The shoes 14 may be made of a textile fabric and provided with soles of felt, rubber,

soft leather, or other material which will admit of their turning when removing the garment or for any purpose desired. These shoes are stitched along the sides to the foot portion of the stockings, as shown at l5, and in the back7 as shown at 1G, and along the top, as indicated at 17, and these shoes may be laced or fastened in any manner found most desirable.

The garment when worn by ladies or misses is provided with a skirt 18, which is secured about the waist in any way found most convenient, thereby completing the suit. The several elastic tapes or webbing serve to support the garment and preserve its form, and the shirring being located at points corresponding with joints of the human frame enables the person to bend in any direction with perfect ease without straining or tearing the garment. The reinforcing tapes or straps distribute the strain throughout the garment,

their lower ends to the upper portion of the4 stockings and at their upper ends to the lower portion of the pants a distance above the tops of the stockings and having the intermediate portion loose, whereby the stockings are sup-- ported without interfering with the baggy effect of the pants, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bathing-suit, the combination of a waist and a pair of pants formed together, the pants having the seat portion shirred, elastics waist and pants formed together, stockings attached to the pants, reinforcing-strips applied to the stockings, elastics joined to the upper ends of the reinforcing-strips and having connection at their lower ends with the knee portion of the stockings and at their upper ends with the pants, and reinforcingstrips joined at their lower ends to the upper ends of the said elastics and stitched to the waist and extending to the upper portion thereof, substantially as set forth.

4. Abathing-suit comprisingawaist,pants, stockings and shoes permanently connected substantially as set forth, corsets having each half permanently secured between its ends to the waist upon opposite sides of a medial line, elastics shirred to the seat portion of the pants, reinforcing-strips applied to the lower portion of the stockings, elastics joined to the upper ends of the reinforcing-strips and having connection at their lower ends with the knee portion of the stockings and shirred thereto, and shirred at their upper ends with the lower portion of the pants, tapes secured to the upper portion of the waist and having their lower ends attached to the upper ends of the elastics applied to the pants and stockings, and other tapes secured to the upper back portion of the waist and having lconnection at their lower ends with the elastics secured to the seat, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARY MELISSIE lVitnesses:

C. W. MEDLIN, G. B. BRAsINGToN.

snnrAnD'. 

